My Kid's School is Selling Formula!

[Chavelamomela]

Today I walked into my son's school and saw they were selling cans of formula. Apparently, some mom had tons of extra that the expiration is coming soon and donated them to the school to sell.

This is a (small) private school from Daycare to Jr. High

I was not particularly happy, and spoke with the director of the preschool program (she didn't even know about it until I brought it up). I told her that by selling this (just by selling the lunch program, or the flowers for mommies, or the music cd), they are by default recommending this product. I recommended that if they want to sell something, sell toilet paper! or Breastpumps! Why forumula?

What would you do? This has no bearing on the wonderful care that the teachers give my son. I just thought this was poor judgement to accept this donation as a profit-making venture for the school.

What do you think? Am I reading too much into this? Shoudl I let it go? Or recommend they donate it to a pediatrician's office or a homeless shelter, or something like that?

[phreedom]

That's weird. I don't think a school should be selling that. But then I would probably think it was strange for them to sell breast pumps as well. My DSD school has a "store" and they sell knick Knack type things or snacks...stuff for the kids or little presents they can get their family. Is it a store for the kids or just a store for anyone? Or is it just a buliten board with stuff for sale posted up there. Or just random can's of formula sitting there, with nothing else for sale? And who gets the money? I don't think that mom should be using the school as a place to unload her formula and make money, there are a billion places she could post formula for sale. (if that's what she is doing) and I don't think the school should be making money off of formula (if that is what is going on) I guess I would have to understand the set up.

If it's like the one DSD has at her school then I think any baby feeding related items would be a little odd there.

[Chavelamomela]

It's not a store or a bulliten board. It's just some random cans sitting on a table outside the school office, marked something like "Formula for sale, $7 (instead of $14 retail). School gets the proceeds"

I just thought it was rather weird and inappropriate.

[amandaleigh37]

Why would a mom have THAT much extra formula? Unless she got it from WIC, in which case I believe it's illegal to sell it... or something... maybe?

Either way, that's annoying.

[RoadWorkAhead]

Technically, mom didn't sell it. She donated it. DOn't know what that does to the WIC ethics thing. I know we can't return our direct distribution formula to WIC even if DD has to switch formulas and they give us more so I would gess I could legitimately donate it to a non-profit and they could then sell it? I don't know.,

Back ot the subject at hand...That would upset me as well, but then again...Education is underfunded.

[delphiniumpansy]

Is that even legal? If school is non profit, are they following procedures to declare this donation? If school is for profit, are they paying taxes on it? Seems to me it would be better for mom to sell it on craigslist and donate proceeds to school. It is kinda tacky, imo, to be selling stuff like this at a school. Is school hard up for cash?

If it were me and I had time, I would sell buy some Lansinoh breastfeeding products and donate them to be for sale on same table.


I agree that it is weird and inappropriate.

[phreedom]

That is very strange indeed.

[TCMoulton]

Originally Posted by delphiniumpansy

Is that even legal? If school is non profit, are they following procedures to declare this donation? If school is for profit, are they paying taxes on it? Seems to me it would be better for mom to sell it on craigslist and donate proceeds to school. It is kinda tacky, imo, to be selling stuff like this at a school. Is school hard up for cash?

If it were me and I had time, I would sell buy some Lansinoh breastfeeding products and donate them to be for sale on same table.


I agree that it is weird and inappropriate.

I would guess that selling formula would really be no different than selling chocolate bars or wrapping paper if all of the profits went to fund school activities/needs. If the school needs the money, and what school couldn't use more funding, then I would have no problem with it.

[G8P4]

I'd have a problem with it. Underfunding is no excuse for promoting unhealthy nutritional choices.

[rmzbm]

Originally Posted by G8P4

I'd have a problem with it. Underfunding is no excuse for promoting unhealthy nutritional choices.

ITA!

[guest~*~]

That would completely rub me the wrong way.

Don't they need some type of business license or something?

Errrgh

[MilkTrance]

Hmmm. It doesn't bother me as much because I went to an underfunded private school, and sometimes they had to do what they had to do, you know?

Really, though, what she OUGHT TO have done is sell it privately then donate the money to the school. That way, the school is not promoting a product.

[cognito]

Originally Posted by MilkTrance

Hmmm. It doesn't bother me as much because I went to an underfunded private school, and sometimes they had to do what they had to do, you know?

Really, though, what she OUGHT TO have done is sell it privately then donate the money to the school. That way, the school is not promoting a product.

That sounds like it would have been an excellent solution. I went to the same type of school in my elementary days & you really 'do what you gotta do'.

[miss_sonja]

There could be liability issues for the school by selling it...I'd take that angle.

[sapphire_chan]

What I'm curious about is who on earth would buy the formula? I mean, even for parents who come to get their child who have a baby at home, the baby would have to already be eating that particular brand and type of formula.

I bet they have to throw away all the cans when they finally expire.